SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERCUTANEOUS PALATE REMODELING

• US 20080208265A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Frazier, Andrew, Jackson, Jasper, Dineen, Michael, Roue, Chad, Hirotsuka, Mark, Burg, Erik van der
• Granted Patent: US 8,220,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/326
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/24 for use in the oral cavity, larynx, bronchial passages or nose for medical inspection of cavities or tubes in the body A61B1/00; Tongue scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00004 (bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable, resorptive for implantable prostheses A61F2210/0004
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00495 for two-component glue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00814 Surgery of the tongue, e.g. glossoplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00986 Malecots, e.g. slotted tubes, of which the distal end is pulled to deflect side struts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0403 Dowels other bone dowels A61B17/68; dowels for connecting prosthetic parts A61F2002/30433
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/042 plastically deformed during insertion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0422 by insertion of a separate member into the body of the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0433 the anchor or the separate member comprising threads, e.g. a set screw or a worm gear for moving spreading members
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0435 : the barbs being separate elements mechanically linked to the anchor, e.g. by pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 : the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0438 : slotted, i.e. having a longitudinal slot for enhancing their elasticity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/044 : with a threaded shaft, e.g. screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/045 : snug fit within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 : Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 : for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 : for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06052 : Needle-suture combinations in which a suture is extending inside a hollow tubular needle, e.g. over the entire length of the needle hollow suture needles A61B2017/061
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06171 : helically or spirally coiled for needles A61B2017/06076
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06176 : with protrusions, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0648 : threaded, e.g. tacks with a screw thread
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 : Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/03 : Automatic limiting or abutting means, e.g. for safety
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/56 : Devices for preventing snoring by influencing the respiratory system by gas treatment A61M16/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/566 : Intra-oral devices

Abstract

Methods and devices are disclosed for manipulating the palatal tissue. An implant is positioned within at least a portion of the soft palate and may be secured to other surrounding, less mobile structures such as the hard palate or the mucosa overlying the hard palate. The implant may be manipulated to displace at least a portion of the soft palate in an anterior or lateral direction, or to alter the tissue tension or compliance of the soft palate.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

providing a palate remodeling system, the system comprising a tether support and a palate element, the palate element comprising a tissue anchor and a tether;

inserting the tissue anchor into a soft palate of a patient;

attaching the tether of the palate element to the tether support;

folding a first surface of the soft palate toward a first surface of the hard palate; and

fixing the tether support with respect to the hard palate.

2. The method for treating a patient as in claim 1, wherein fixing the tether support with respect to the hard palate comprises fixing the tether support to mucosal tissue overlying the hard palate.

3. The method for treating a patient as in claim 1, wherein fixing the tether support is performed before attaching the tether to the tether support.

4. The method for treating a patient as in claim 1, wherein the tissue anchor is an expandable tissue anchor.

5. The method for treating a patient as in claim 1, wherein the tissue anchor and the tether are pre-attached.

6. The method for treating a patient as in claim 1, wherein the palate remodeling system comprises a second palate element.

7. The method for treating a patient as in claim 6, wherein the palate remodeling system comprises a second tether support.

8. The method for treating a patient as in claim 1, wherein the tether support is an adjustable tether support.

9. The method for treating a patient as in claim 1, further comprising folding a second surface of the soft palate toward a second surface of the hard palate, wherein the first surface of the hard palate is a superior surface and the second surface of the hard palate is an inferior surface.

10. A palate implant, comprising:

an anchoring structure configured for attachment to a hard palate; and

a first spring element configured for insertion into a soft palate, wherein the first spring element comprises a proximal section attached to the anchoring structure and a distal section having a paddle configuration.

11. The palate implant as in claim 10, wherein the anchoring structure comprises a hard palate fastener and a fastener aperture.

12. The palate implant as in claim 10, wherein the first spring element has a non-linear configuration.

13. The palate implant as in claim 12, wherein the first spring element has a curved configuration.

14. The palate implant as in claim 10, further comprising a second spring element configured for insertion into the soft palate.

15. The palate implant as in claim 14, wherein the first and second spring elements have a similar size and shape.

16. The palate implant as in claim 14, wherein the first and second spring elements have a mirror-image configuration.

17. The palate implant as in claim 14, wherein the first and second spring elements are configured generally about 180 degrees apart with respect to the anchoring structure.

18. The palate implant as in claim 14, wherein the first and second spring elements have an adjustable angular relationship with respect to the anchoring structure.

19. A method for displacing a soft palate with respect to a tongue of a patient, comprising:

providing a palate implant, wherein the palate implant comprises a first spring element configured for insertion into the soft palate and having a first end, a second end, a hinge therebetween, a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration;

inserting the first spring element into the soft palate of a patient in the delivery configuration; and

deploying the first spring element to the deployed configuration to displace a portion of the soft palate away from the tongue of the patient.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein the palate implant further comprises an anchoring structure attached to the first end of the first spring element.

21. The method as in claim 20, further comprising attaching the anchoring structure to a hard palate region of the patient.

22. The method as in claim 21, wherein deploying the first spring element to the deployed configuration comprises deforming the hinge of the first spring element by moving the anchoring structure toward the hard palate region of the patient.

23. The method as in claim 21, wherein attaching the anchoring structure to the hard palate region is performed after deploying the first spring element to the deployed configuration.

24. The method as in claim 21, wherein attaching the anchoring structure to the hard palate region is performed before deploying the first spring element to the deployed configuration.

25. The method as in claim 19, wherein the palate implant further comprises a second spring element configured for insertion into the soft palate and having a first end, a second end, a hinge therebetween, a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration.

26. The method as in claim 25, further comprising inserting the second spring element into the soft palate of the patient in the delivery configuration and deploying the second spring element to the deployed configuration.

27. The method as in claim 26, wherein the second spring element is inserted into the soft palate at an orientation of about 180 degrees with respect to the first spring element.